LISA ZANI, Bridgewater: One-size-fits-all is no solution

Saturday

As an RN, I know nurse staffing is an important component of patient care. However, the proposed ballot initiative mandating staffing ratios in hospitals is not the answer.

The ballot language would affect how quickly patients will be evaluated and treated by care providers. Our most vulnerable and most needy patients will be disproportionately affected.

Hospitals are already working to fill all of their open positions, and this bill requires many more nurses to be added. If hospitals can't abide by this-- and I think for many it will be impossible- we are going to spend money on fines rather than having the right resources in the moment. It is conceivable that some community hospitals that are financially strained will be forced to close, which will make it harder for some patients to get the care they need.

Every nurse wants more resources. Hospital and nursing leaders need to be proactive about voicing staffing concerns and ideas, and working within the specific hospital — not applying a one-size-fits-all model to every hospital and every unit in Massachusetts.

LISA ZANIBridgewater

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The two sides have spent $28 million on the campaign as of Oct. 15, $17.5 million by opponents and $10.4 million by proponents. Most of the spending was on radio and TV advertising and ad agencies. The Massachusetts Nurses Association received $2.7 million from the yes-on-1 casmpaign.

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